Swedish town conducts first overnight air-raid shelter drill amid rising security concerns
The municipality of Grums held Sweden's inaugural overnight air-raid shelter exercise, testing how civilians cope underground.
In Grums, Sweden, local officials staged the country's first all-night air-raid shelter exercise inside a 60-year-old underground bunker. A diverse set of volunteers—including a firefighter, a pensioner, a secretary-mother and a carpenter who also serves in the Home Guard—spent the night sleeping on bags while confronting practical obstacles such as transporting a wheelchair-bound man down a steep staircase and monitoring oxygen levels.
They took turns operating a crank to supply fresh air and used a trash can as an improvised toilet. After the lights were switched off at 10 p.m., participants introduced themselves, some experienced fainting, and later shared personal impressions, noting discomfort but also the value of the experience. All observations will be compiled into a study for the defence ministry to enhance future shelter conditions.
